School Psychology MS degree

Program overview

The MS degree in school psychology prepares students for provisional New York state certification as school psychologists. Designed to provide students with a strong background in psychological foundations, the program develops professional skills and competencies in assessment, counseling, consultation, and program evaluation.

A school psychologist works with young children (birth to age five); elementary, junior high, and high school students; teachers and administrators; parents; and professionals to offer services that lead to the amelioration of existing student difficulties and attempts to prevent school problems. Through diagnostic testing, counseling, consultation, and intervention, school psychologists help students deal with learning and behavioral difficulties and help improve students’ adjustment to school and their community.

The MS degree in school psychology is approved by the National Association of School Psychologists, and is awarded after students have completed all course work, an internship, and have passed a portfolio review.

Plan of study

A minimum of 66 semester credit hours are required for completion of the program. Before registering for the internship, students must pass a portfolio review. A cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above is required.

Curriculum

School psychology, MS degree, typical course sequence

Course

Sem. Cr. Hrs.

First Year

SPSY-640

Statistics

3

SPSY-630

Academic Assessment

3

SPSY-620

Interpersonal Intervention Skills

3

SPSY-610

Advanced Developmental Psychology

3

SPSY-600

Field Experience I: Professional School Psychology Foundations

3

SPSY-632

Social-Emotional Assessment

3

SPSY-721

Academic Intervention

3

SPSY-631

Cognitive Assessment

3

SPSY-650

Applied Behavior Analysis

3

SPSY-601

Field Experience II: Professional School Psychology Foundations

3

Second Year

SPSY-730

Comprehensive Assessment Integration

3

SPSY-722

Advanced Counseling

3

SPSY-603

Ethical and Legal Issues

3

SPSY-710

Developmental Psychopathology

3

SPSY-701

Advanced Practicum I: Issues in Diversity

3

SPSY-641

Research Methods

3

SPSY-723

Systems and Organizational Interventions

3

SPSY-611

Biopsychology

3

SPSY-720

Advanced Consultation

3

SPSY-702

Advanced Practicum II: Issues in Diversity

3

Third Year

SPSY-750

Internship

6

Total Semester Credit Hours

66

Admission requirements

To be considered for admission to the MS program in school psychology, candidates must fulfill the following requirements:

Submit an essay outlining the candidate’s goals and related experience that shows evidence of a professional commitment and the potential for developing effective relationships with children, youth, and adults.

Complete a personal interview.

Submit two letters of recommendation from academic or professional sources.

International applicants whose native language is not English must submit scores from the TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE. A minimum TOEFL score of 100 (internet-based) is required. A minimum IELTS score of 7.0 is required. The English language test score requirement is waived for native speakers of English or for those submitting transcripts from degrees earned at American institutions.

All credentials must be submitted and reviewed before the student completes 9 semester credit hours of graduate work in the program. Applications are due by February 1. Later applications are reviewed on a space-available basis.

Quarter Curriculum - For Reference Only

Effective fall 2013, RIT converted its academic calendar from quarters to semesters. The following content has been made available as reference only. Currently matriculated students who began their academic programs in quarters should consult their academic adviser for guidance and course selection.

Program overview

The master of science degree in school psychology is approved by the National Association of School Psychologists and prepares students for provisional New York state certification as school psychologists. Designed to provide students with a strong background in psychological foundations, the program develops professional skills and competencies in assessment, counseling, consultation, and program evaluation.

A school psychologist works with young children (birth to age five); elementary, junior high, and high school students; teachers and administrators; parents; and professionals to offer services that lead to the amelioration of existing student difficulties and attempts to prevent school problems. Through diagnostic testing, counseling, consultation, and intervention, school psychologists help students deal with learning and behavioral difficulties and help improve students’ adjustment to school and their community.

The master of science degree is awarded after students have completed all course work, an internship, and have passed a portfolio review. The advanced certificate in school psychology is awarded to students who have met all the requirements of the MS degree and have completed and defended a thesis or research project.

Curriculum

School psychology, MS degree, typical course sequence (quarters)

Course

Qtr. Cr. Hrs.

First Year

0527-726

Psychoeducational Assessment I

4

0527-724

Interpersonal Intervention Skills

4

0527-733

Applied Behavioral Analysis

4

0527-712

Practicum I

2

0527-731

Psychoeducational Assessment II

4

0527-749

Advanced Consultation

4

0527-701

Advanced Developmental Psychology

4

0527-713

Practicum II

2

0527-732

Psychoeducational Assessment III

4

0527-744

Advanced Counseling

4

0527-723

Developmental Psychopathology

4

0527-714

Practicum III

2

Second Year

0527-734

Linking Assessment to Intervention

4

0527-745

Alternative Assessment Techniques

4

0527-759

Research Methods I

2

0527-728

Inferential Statistics I

2

0527-715

Practicum IV

2

Project/Thesis

3

0527-742

Biological Basis of Behavior

4

0527-702

Psychology of Teaching/Learning

4

0527-810

Research Methods II

2

0527-811

Inferential Statistics II

2

0527-716

Practicum V

2

0527-703

Cultural Diversity in Education

4

0527-752

Children and Trauma

4

0527-730

Seminar—Professional and Legal Issues

4

0527-717

Practicum VI

2

Third Year

0527-777

Internship I

3

0527-777

Internship II

3

0527-777

Internship III

3

Project/Thesis (If needed)

Total Quarter Credit Hours

96

Degree requirements

A minimum of 96 quarter credit hours are required for completion of the program. Before registering for the internship, students must pass a portfolio review. A cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above is required.

Admission requirements

To be considered for admission to the MS program in school pscyhology, candidates must fulfill the following requirements:

Hold a baccalaureate degree at an accredited college or university,

Have a minimum undergraduate cumulative GPA of 3.0,

Have completed at least 18 semester hours (27 quarter hours) in behavioral sciences with a grade of B or above,

Submit an essay outlining the candidate's goals and related experience that shows evidence of a professional commitment and the potential for developing effective relationships with children, youth, and adults,

Complete an individual interview, and

Complete an application for graduate study.

International applicants whose native language is not English must submit scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language. A minimum score of 580 (paper-based) is required. This requirement is waived for native speakers of English and those submitting transcripts from American universities.

All credentials must be submitted and reviewed before the student completes 12 quarter credit hours of graduate work in the program. Applications are due by February 1. Later applications will be reviewed on a space-available basis.